by Sean Kelly
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by Sean Kelly
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By Sean Kelly
The recent death of the Queen has, quite naturally, seen a deluge of media coverage. Considering the vast length of her reign and the high esteem she was held in across the world, it is unsurprising how all-encompassing this has been. On the night of her death, the BBC showed blanket coverage across its many platforms. Both BBC One and BBC Two were broadcasting the exact same footage as the BBC News channel. BBC Four’s programming for the evening was suspended, presenting the viewer instead with text encouraging the viewer to switch to one of the BBC’s other stations covering the Queen’s death. In the world of radio, the various BBC radio stations presented a similar monolith.
This is no judgement on the Queen herself, or the public’s response to her death. Rather, it is a question of the use of public resources. The BBC is, of course, funded by the License Fee, which is paid by the public. I’m certain that amongst the millions who pay this fee there must, inevitably, be a certain percentage of people who are opposed to the monarchy. Some may be admirers of the Queen that were looking for some alternative to watch that night, in order to escape from the pervading feeling of sadness. Elsewhere, I’m certain, there were people that didn’t particularly care one way or the other. Regardless, all of these people would still be legally obligated to pay their License Fee
Even defenders of the License Fee must be aware of these frustrations. In an era where media consumption trends have shifted rapidly to the various streaming platforms, it’s entirely possible that someone could avoid any BBC material at all. Considering that the BBC can effectively suspend this broadcasting funded by the public whenever is chooses, it opens up further questions about the sustainability of the License Fee.
There are, of course, myriad other ways into this debate. Some people may object to paying for the material of comedians they find offensive; others may feel the resources provided by the BBC ensures that it’s necessary and justified. Yet, it’s hard to shake the feeling: the License Fee’s days may be, and should be, numbered.
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